Obituary of Harold Egbert Seegmiller

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It is with love and gratitude that the family of Harold Egbert Seegmiller announce that he died peacefully at home on Monday, May 25, 2026. Mourning his loss are his wife of 69 years, Violet, and the family that were his greatest pride: son Tim Seegmiller and daughter-in-law Beverly Harris; son Bill Seegmiller; daughter Beth and son-in-law Dave Nevills; and daughter Cindy and son-in-law Chris Hill. Also mourning his loss are Tim and Bev’s children Lindsay Seegmiller (and great-granddaughter Sable), Geoffrey Seegmiller, and Nora Seegmiller married to Thomas Huijbregts (great-grandson Liam Seegmiller); Bill’s children Ryan and Devlynn Seegmiller; and Cindy and Chris’s children Harry and Christie Hill.

Though we grieve our loss, we know that we are stronger, steadier, and better because of his example, his generosity, and his love. He encouraged us through setbacks, offering “mostly quiet” help, and provided a reliable presence during life’s hardest moments.

Harold and Vi married in 1957; shortly afterward, Harold graduated from the University of Toronto as a civil engineer. Their partnership was a shining example of the best of marriage. Their lifelong routine of walking together each morning enabled them to work through the challenges of four children born within five years and the countless pressures of work. It was a practice they maintained whether at the cottage in Gravenhurst, their home in Kitchener, their condo in Florida, or while travelling together. It was clear to all: for Harold, home was wherever Vi was.

Taking care of people was the guiding principle of Harold’s life, and it extended beyond his family to the employees who worked with him. Harold began his career driving a truck for E & E Seegmiller, the company founded by his father Egbert and uncle Edgar. During his tenure, the company expanded to include Hogg Fuel & Supply, Preston Sand & Gravel, and other affiliated businesses. Among his proudest achievements was his decision in the 1960’s to establish a company pension plan to ensure his employees had a comfortable retirement — something extremely uncommon in the industry. During his retirement, Harold continued to guide the pension plan and remained fiercely proud of its performance.

Though highly respected in business — serving as President of the Ontario Road Builders’ Association in 1985 and on the Boards of Doon Twines, Krug Furniture, and Economical Insurance — titles never defined him nearly as much as relationships did. Unlike the rest of us, he rarely forgot a face. He believed honesty mattered, that your word meant something, that a handshake could be enough to seal a deal, and that problems were simply puzzles to be solved.